I'm chomping at the bit for it and I'll be shocked if it isn't in my top five games of the year. I'm usually a fan of game that use offbeat artistic styles to begin with but the word is that the gameplay and story is every bit as good as the art style (Zelda is the most commonly cited comparison) and the game is *huge*.

This is really the only PS2 game left that I have a lot of excitement for! From what I have heard it is similar to Zelda and that sold me right there. The style of the game is awesome and it sounds like it is very enjoyable. It was also EGM's game of the month scoring, if I recall correctly, two 9s and a 9.5. Day 1 purchase for me!

Is it weird that I hadn't heard of this game, or is there just no hype?

I've been under the impression that this is one of the most eagerly anticipated PS2 titles of this year. I know I've been looking forward it for at least a year now. On the other hand, the unique visual style and calligraphy gameplay probably prevents it from being a considered a mainstream title.

Yeah, Okami and Guitar Hero 2 are the only two future PS2 games I really want to play.

The game is supposed to be similar to Zelda, though the artwork is much different (sort of like Japanese watercolors). The unique aspect of the game is that the screen can be paused at any time. When paused, the colors disappear and you can use a paint brush to paint the screen. For example (as mentioned by EGM), if you see a torch and a pile of sticks, painting a line from the torch to the sticks causes the sticks to catch fire. Or if there is a bridge that is out, you can paint in the rest of the bridge and then cross it.

At first that sounded sort of gimmicky and something that might get old pretty quickly, but again, according to EGM, the game produces unique ways to use the brush all the way to the end (which is supposedly ~ 40 hours long). Sounds pretty cool to me.

Yeah, Okami and Guitar Hero 2 are the only two future PS2 games I really want to play.

The game is supposed to be similar to Zelda, though the artwork is much different (sort of like Japanese watercolors). The unique aspect of the game is that the screen can be paused at any time. When paused, the colors disappear and you can use a paint brush to paint the screen. For example (as mentioned by EGM), if you see a torch and a pile of sticks, painting a line from the torch to the sticks causes the sticks to catch fire. Or if there is a bridge that is out, you can paint in the rest of the bridge and then cross it.

At first that sounded sort of gimmicky and something that might get old pretty quickly, but again, according to EGM, the game produces unique ways to use the brush all the way to the end (which is supposedly ~ 40 hours long). Sounds pretty cool to me.

Yeah, Okami and Guitar Hero 2 are the only two future PS2 games I really want to play.

The game is supposed to be similar to Zelda, though the artwork is much different (sort of like Japanese watercolors). The unique aspect of the game is that the screen can be paused at any time. When paused, the colors disappear and you can use a paint brush to paint the screen. For example (as mentioned by EGM), if you see a torch and a pile of sticks, painting a line from the torch to the sticks causes the sticks to catch fire. Or if there is a bridge that is out, you can paint in the rest of the bridge and then cross it.

At first that sounded sort of gimmicky and something that might get old pretty quickly, but again, according to EGM, the game produces unique ways to use the brush all the way to the end (which is supposedly ~ 40 hours long). Sounds pretty cool to me.

Yeah, I got it from Play-Asia. Gonna work a night of overtime to afford it

I've listened to a few songs and they've been really, really great. I don't know if it's truly worth it, but Okami really is shaping up to be something special, so I figured why not. That's hours and hours of music by some fantastic composers.

Regarding the soundtrack, is there more traditional stuff or is it mostly of a modern take on traditional styles? The samples I heard are so over-produced it sounds like the backing music from an 80's synth band. I want to like it but what I hear sounds pretty laughable. I mean, the music itself is good, but the way it sounds is not.

Regarding the soundtrack, is there more traditional stuff or is it mostly of a modern take on traditional styles?

it's a mix, pretty much, tho, if the above cut sounds over-arranged to you, you might not like it (also, what with 5 cds - the last of which contains lots of tiny bits - there's obviously some overlap as far as melodies/themes). it's a lot of money for a soundtrack, so there's no way i'm gonna flat-out recommend it (like i would, say, the killer 7 ost!), but i personally continue to listen to & enjoy it a whole lot. your mileage may vary?...

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"... i'm not against some 'monkey catching'... but i'd rather be collecting pants..."- snake, 'snake vs monkey' (mgs3:se)

There's an interesting video here showing what was apparently the original, realistic version of the game side-by-side with the final, artistic version. As much as I like the style of the game, at least for the sequence shown, I like the realistic version much better.

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"Why did the chicken cross the Mobius strip? To get to the same side." - The Big Bang Theory

There's an interesting video here showing what was apparently the original, realistic version of the game side-by-side with the final, artistic version. As much as I like the style of the game, at least for the sequence shown, I like the realistic version much better.

How much of the game did they make like that before starting over? i really like the look of the realistic graphics, in fact I would enjoy playign it like that, but for this game and what they are trying to do, I think the cartoon graphics look gorgeous. This has certainly really piqued my interest lately.

There's an interesting video here showing what was apparently the original, realistic version of the game side-by-side with the final, artistic version. As much as I like the style of the game, at least for the sequence shown, I like the realistic version much better.

I think the only thing that's more impressive about the realistic one is that the wolf creates much more trees and grass in his wake than he does in the cel-shaded version, which almost makes him seem more powerful. Otherwise, I think the cel-shading is cool as hell.